The Alco RS3

The Alco RS3 was the builder's pinnacle in its early road switcher
designs. While the American Locomotive Company would have some
success in later Road Switcher (RS) series models,
like the RS11 and RSD5, nothing would compare to the amazing success
of the RS3. When it was released Alco had already
cataloged two previous versions, the RS1 and RS2, both of which had seen
modest success as the first true road-switchers ever produced. Unfortunately, overall the Schenectady manufacturer
had considerable trouble seriously competing with Electro-Motive whose cab designs were far outpacing anything in its catalog.
In any event, the RS3 would go on to be the most commonly seen Alco
model across the country and remained in the company's catalog for
more than six years. Today, numerous examples of this locomotive remain
preserved, several of which are still operational.

The Alco RS3 entered production
in 1950 replacing its predecessor the RS2. The new model produced
slightly more horsepower than the earlier design at 1,600 hp using Alco's commonly problematic 12-cylinder, model
244 prime mover. From a visual standpoint the RS3 looked almost
identical to the RS2. Both had much improved styling over the RS1
albeit it was quite subtle with heavy beveling to corners and edges
giving the unit a much more streamlined appearance (because of its good looks some railroads elected to employ theirs in passenger/commuter
service). Instantly beloved by railroads for its versatility and
reliability, RS3s began rolling out of Alco's Schenectady shops in the masses.

Perhaps more than any other locomotive the RS3 defined Alco as a
locomotive manufacturer offering eye-appealing, classy designs with their trademark belching black smoke.
While the RS1 and RS2 had sold relatively well perhaps it
was the RS3's extra 100 horsepower over its predecessor that really
appealed to railroads. While the model 244
proved generally reliable and rugged in its smaller switcher and light road switcher
designs (like the RS3) the prime mover simply not been properly researched and developed for
heavy-haul use. As such, the FA and PA models in production at
the time experienced significant mechanical issues. This allowed Electro-Motive to gain a notable edge and these problems ultimately resulted in Alco's exit from the market.

Interestingly, a year prior to the RS3's release EMD was finally
cataloging a competitor, the GP7. Unfortunately for EMD their initial
design, the BL2, proved unsuccessful although the industry leader
quickly learned from their mistake. The model used the
same road switcher design setup pioneered by Alco in its 1941 RS1 with a
long trailing hood, offset cab, and short front hood. Both as the time as well as from a historical stance the RS3 has been deemed an incredible success for
Alco. However, had the builder acquired the reputation of EMD it may
have sold even more. The GP7 went on to sell more than 2,700 examples
before its production run ended in 1954 and its successor, the GP9, was even more successful.

When the RS3 was produced Alco was still working in conjunction with General Electric and Westinghouse to supply internal components for its locomotives. As such the model contained air brakes and compressors from the latter while the former provided its model 752 traction motors that gave the RS3 around 60,000 pounds of initial tractive effort (more than 2,000 more than the RS2). The model weighed around 114.5 tons, was 55 feet/5 inches in length and equipped with dynamic braking. This latter ability allowed railroads to use the RS3 in heavy-haul service, such as moving coal drags up steep grades and many did not shy away from doing so; for instance the Reading, Lehigh Valley, Louisville & Nashville, Southern and others beat theirs to pieces in this capacity.

It was the model's ability to take
this abuse regularly and continue operating on a daily basis that so endeared them to railroads and resulted in many
returning to Alco for more. It's a shame that the company could not have produced other locomotives that emulated the success of the RS3.
By the time production ended in 1956 Alco would sell more than 1,300 and even today you can still find these venerable locomotives
operating on short lines and tourist trains all across the country. Most
interesting is that when Alco introduced its RS line in 1941 and found
success with a locomotive that could be used in multiple roles EMD was
convinced to begin manufacturing its own line of road switcher that would eventually help put Alco out of business one day. For more information related to Alco's RS3 line please click here.

Production Roster Of Alco RS3s

Owner

Road Number(s)

Quantity

Date Built

Alco Demonstrator

1600-1601, 1607

3

1950, 1952

Alton & Southern

43-45

3

1950-1956

American Smelting & Refining

2-3

2

1950

Atlantic & Danville

107

1

1951

Birmingham Southern

151-152

2

1950-1951

Blue Ridge Railway

1-2

2

1950

Boston & Maine

1505-1519, 1535-1545

26

1952-1954

Carolina & North-Western

5, 10

2

1950, 1953

Central Of Georgia

108-119, 133-159

39

1950-1953

Central Railroad Of New Jersey

1540-1555, 1700-1709

26

1950-1953

Central Vermont

1859-1860

2

1954

Chesapeake & Ohio

5600-5601

2

1955

Chicago & North Western

1551-1555, 1613-1624

17

1951-1953

Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas Pacific (Southern)

6208-6239

32

1952

Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha (C&NW)

162-167

6

1952-1953

Danville & Western

1-2

2

1950

Delaware & Hudson

4026-4129

104

1950-1953

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (Lackawanna)

901-918

18

1950-1952

Denver & Rio Grande Western

5200-5204

5

1951

Erie

914-933, 1005-1038

54

1950-1952

Federal Barge Lines

60-61

2

1952, 1955

Grand Trunk Western

1861-1862

2

1954

Great Northern

197-199, 220-224, 228-232

13

1950-1953

Green Bay & Western

305-308

4

1951, 1955

Gulf, Mobile & Ohio

1515-1523

9

1950-1952

Interstate Railroad

30-36, 38-39

8

1953, 1956

Kennecott Copper

109

1

1950

Lake Superior & Ishpeming

1604-1610

7

1950-1955

Lehigh & Hudson River

1-13

13

1950-1951

Lehigh Valley

215-216

2

1950

Litchfield & Madison

301-303

3

1952-1956

Long Island Rail Road

1551-1560

10

1955

Louisville & Nashville

100-154, 170-179, 214-255

107

1951-1956

Macon, Dublin & Savannah

1703-1706

4

1950-1956

Maine Central

556-557

2

1953

Milwaukee Road

2475-2495

21

1953-1955

Minnesota Transfer

200-201

2

1951

Missouri-Illinois Railway

19-20, 62-74

15

1951-1955

Missouri-Kansas-Texas (Katy)

1551-1563, 1701-1702

15

1950-1951

Missouri Pacific

4501-4526

26

1955

New Haven

517-561

45

1950-1952

New Orleans & Northeastern (Southern)

6875-6882

8

1950

New York Central

8223-8352

130

1950-1953

Nickel Plate Road

535-557

23

1954

Norfolk & Western

300-307

8

1955-1956

Northern Pacific

850-863

14

1953-1955

Oliver Iron Mining

1108-1110

3

1950

Pennsylvania

8435-8484, 8590-8605, 8817-8856, 8902-8916

121

1951-1955

Piedmont & Northern

100-109

10

1950-1951

Pittsburgh & Lake Erie (NYC)

8353-8357

5

1953

Reading

444-475, 481-524

76

1951-1953

Rock Island

455-474, 485-499

25

1950-1951

Rutland

201-208

8

1951-1952

Soo Line

352-353

2

1954

St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt)

308-310, 311 (1st/2nd), 312-318, 356-360

17

1951-1952

St. Marys Railroad

501-502

2

1951, 1956

San Manuel Copper

1-3

3

1955

Seaboard Air Line

1629-1684

56

1950-1952

Southern

2025-2062, 2131-2145

53

1951-1953

Spokane, Portland & Seattle

65-82, 90-98

27

1950-1955

Tennessee Central

251-260

10

1950-1956

Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA)

1600-1603

4

1950

Texas Pacific-Missouri Pacific Terminal

24

1

1956

Toledo, Peoria & Western

207

1

1950

Western Maryland

185-198

14

1953-1954

Yadkin Railroad

9

1

1951

Of note, Alco's Canadian arm, the Montreal Locomotive Works, was not
nearly as successful with the RS3 selling just 98 to the Canadian
National, Canadian Pacific, Ontario Northland, Pacific Great Eastern,
Quebec, North Shore & Labrador, and the Roberval & Saguenay.
Additionally, Alco built another 69 units for foreign sale
including the Algerian Railways, Central do Brazil, Consolidated
Railways of Cuba (before trade bans with Cuba were enacted), Ferrocaril
del Pacifico, and National de Mexico (the above production roster includes only domestically sold RS3s). From the historical narrative it is fascinating that it was Alco, not EMD, which pioneered the endearing locomotive design still regularly used in freight service today; the common road-switcher. To read more about other Alco Road-Switcher (RS) models please visit the Diesel Locomotives section of the site, which can be reached from the top of this page.

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